Chapter 5
Jiang Cheng had already prepared an excuse and typed it out to play it to him: “I want to keep Grandpa company for dinner.”
The old master clearly liked hearing this and said happily, “Good, then stay and eat with Grandpa.”
Madam Chen secretly gritted her teeth in anger. This little mute—she doesn’t speak, but her words are so sweet.
She immediately said, “Girls are more considerate and well-behaved. Duoduo also kept saying she wanted to come see you.”
Duoduo was her own granddaughter, the little girl who looked two or three parts like Chen Yin and was treated by the old master as a substitute.
“Good, good,” the old master laughed happily. “Cough cough cough, all good children.”
Jiang Cheng didn’t understand the open and hidden struggles of wealthy families. He only felt that the old master was surrounded by children and grandchildren, all so filial. That was also considered without regrets.
That night, Madam Chen’s son and daughter-in-law really brought the children over to accompany the old master for dinner. Duoduo was just over three years old, at the age where she was especially cute, calling him “Grandpa” again and again, making the old master smile brightly.
Chen Pingzhou only had a son in middle school. He wasn’t sweet-tongued and was a bit mischievous. Looking at him, it seemed like he was even considering having a second child.
Jiang Cheng was completely insensitive to all of this. The Chen family’s food was very rich. For someone like him, a poor kid, it was like a feast of mountains and seas, so he just focused on eating.
Two days passed like this, and Jiang Cheng gradually adapted to life in the Chen family. During this time, Chen Pingzhou and his wife even took him once to the cemetery to pay respects at Chen Rou’s grave, completing the act.
However, the old master was too old to go, and Madam Chen and the others were not interested either. Only Chen Pingzhou went with Jiang Cheng, so he had a rare moment of relaxation. He didn’t need to pretend, and quickly took the opportunity to call his grandmother.
In the Chen family, even in his room, he didn’t dare make calls. He wasn’t sure about soundproofing or whether servants might be outside listening. If he exposed himself because of such a small detail, it would not be worth it.
Chen Pingzhou still remained cautious and didn’t use a driver, instead driving himself. After Jiang Cheng finished the call with his grandmother, he asked, “Have Lin Min and the others caused you trouble these days?”
Lin Min was Madam Chen—his stepmother.
Chen Pingzhou and the others had their own families and work. They couldn’t always stay by Jiang Cheng’s side. Since he lived at the old master’s place, he inevitably had to interact with Madam Chen.
Jiang Cheng thought for a moment and said, “Kind of. She sometimes speaks in a very sarcastic way, but I usually don’t notice it at the time. I only realize it afterward. But it doesn’t seem to hurt me much.”
Chen Pingzhou couldn’t help laughing. His stepmother was exactly that kind of person—she loved being sarcastic. Against someone as slow as Jiang Cheng, she probably ended up more frustrated herself.
“What about Shang Zhe Nian? After coming back from the library, did he not come looking for you again?”
“Yesterday he asked if I wanted to go to a comic convention together. I refused.”
“……”
Chen Pingzhou’s smile immediately froze. “You actually refused Shang Zhe Nian?!”
“Uh…” Jiang Cheng looked confused. “Is that not okay?”
“It’s not that it’s not okay,” Chen Pingzhou said, feeling like it was not the time to break things open. He asked carefully, “Then how did he react? Was he angry?”
“I didn’t feel anything. He even messaged me today. Oh right, his mother invited me to their house tomorrow. She said I should come see… my mother’s photos from when she was young. Should I go?”
“Go!” Chen Pingzhou immediately said.
Seeing Jiang Cheng look over in confusion, he realized his reaction was a bit too strong and coughed. “She probably has a lot of photos of Xiaorou. As her daughter, you should go take a look.”
Jiang Cheng didn’t doubt it and typed: “Okay, I’ll tell her.”
Chen Pingzhou quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
The old master was very happy when he heard he was going to the Shang family as a guest. He even prepared gifts for him to bring. Originally, he planned to have a driver send him there, but Shang Zhe Nian came personally to pick him up.
This treatment made even Chen Pingzhou a little jealous. If Chen Yin hadn’t gone missing, all of this should have belonged to her.
Today, Shang Zhe Nian changed into a Cullinan. After getting into the car, he looked at Jiang Cheng. Seeing that he awkwardly but successfully fastened his seatbelt—and then quietly relaxed with a hint of pride in his eyes—he couldn’t help but smile.
He started the car and asked, “Is this car more comfortable than the last one?”
Last time, she clearly wasn’t used to the sports car. She had been curled up in the seat both ways, pressing her hand over her hair and covering her face.
So Shang Zhe Nian had changed to a less flashy car.
Of course, he didn’t know Jiang Cheng was worried the wind would blow off his wig.
Jiang Cheng nodded and typed: “Is this also your car?”
“Yes. But I think it’s too bulky and old-fashioned, like something my dad would drive, so I don’t use it much.”
Jiang Cheng looked envious and typed: “You have so many cars!”
In the past two trips—to the Chen family, the library, and today—Jiang Cheng had already seen him switch three different cars.
And he recognized this one today. It was a Rolls-Royce!
Shang Zhe Nian asked, “Do you have any cars you like?”
Jiang Cheng typed: “I like electric bikes. Where I live, they’re more useful than cars. Many small alleys can only be entered by e-bikes. A big car like yours would get stuck!”
“……”
Shang Zhe Nian, who had been about to casually offer to buy her a car, was momentarily speechless. Then he couldn’t help laughing.
Soon, the car arrived at the Shang residence.
Jiang Cheng originally thought the Chen family was already luxurious enough. But after arriving at the Shang family, he deeply felt what it meant to see a mountain beyond a mountain.
The location was excellent, the estate was huge, and there was even a helicopter landing pad—with a helicopter parked on it.
So this is what it feels like to accidentally enter another world.
Madam Shang was waiting at the entrance. When she saw him, she immediately smiled warmly.
“You’re here. Why did you still bring gifts? That’s too polite.”
The gifts were carried by Shang Zhe Nian. Jiang Cheng held his phone and typed carefully: “Auntie Fang, hello.”
“Come in quickly. It’s hot outside.”
Madam Shang led him inside. “Have you gotten used to being back these few days? Has anyone bullied you?”
Jiang Cheng typed: “I’m getting used to it slowly. Grandpa treats me very well. No one dares to bully me.”
“That’s good. If you suffer any grievances, you must say it. If you’re afraid of worrying your grandpa, tell your uncle. If your uncle doesn’t care, tell me. I will stand up for you. Don’t keep it to yourself, understand?”
Jiang Cheng obediently nodded. It was clear that Aunt Fang truly cared about Chen Yin.
After sitting for a while, Madam Shang said she would take him upstairs to look at photos left by Chen Rou.
Shang Zhe Nian also wanted to go, but was dismissed by Madam Shang.
“You stay here with your documents. Your father told you to handle work, didn’t he? Go do it. A man without a career doesn’t deserve a wife.”
Shang Zhe Nian: “……”
Jiang Cheng secretly clicked his tongue. So even rich second-generation marriage is this competitive.
Shang Zhe Nian had no choice but to leave for work.
Madam Shang took Jiang Cheng upstairs.
The two of them were likely very close friends in the past, so Madam Shang had many photos of Chen Rou. In the era before smartphones were common, all the photos had been printed and placed into several albums.
Most of them were from her youth. At that time, Chen Rou looked even more similar to Jiang Cheng—about sixty to seventy percent alike. Even Chen Yin herself might not have resembled her this much.
But no one had ever mentioned Jiang Cheng’s father. Chen Yin probably took her mother’s surname. Her marriage likely wasn’t happy, so Jiang Cheng wisely didn’t ask.
As Madam Shang flipped through the albums, she told him stories from the past.
After finishing one album, Jiang Cheng helped move the slightly heavy album aside and opened the next one—but suddenly froze.
In the photo, there was a teenage boy wearing a school uniform. He stood tall and straight, with clear and refined features. One glance was enough to tell he was the kind of school heartthrob who stood out everywhere—handsome, dazzling, and carrying a hint of wild arrogance.
——It was Shang Zhe Nian in high school.
Jiang Cheng flipped down again and found more of Shang Zhe Nian. In one photo, he was playing basketball. In a captured moment, he was mid-dunk—jumping high, slamming the ball into the hoop with powerful arms. His muscles were tight and defined, full of youthful energy, looking carefree and dazzling.
So handsome.
Jiang Cheng thought this, then closed the album and was about to put it aside. It looked like it belonged to Shang Zhe Nian—probably placed here by mistake.
Madam Shang immediately understood what had happened. Of course, once a man falls in love, he becomes the same—like a peacock opening its feathers.
Seeing Jiang Cheng about to put it away after only a couple of pages, she held back her laughter and pressed it down.
“It was probably mixed in by the servants by accident. Since it’s already here, just take a look. My son looks very handsome.”
Jiang Cheng wasn’t interested in handsome guys’ photos, but out of politeness he opened it again.
The third photo was likely after basketball practice. Shang Zhe Nian was lifting his jersey to wipe sweat—his abs faintly visible.
Jiang Cheng looked enviously. If only two of those abs could grow on him…
This album wasn’t thick, but every photo was carefully selected. Not only was he handsome, it also recorded many important moments of his life—graduation, coming-of-age ceremony, competitions, award stages. It was basically a full summary of his high school years.
Youthful, bold, and shining.
Compared to that, Jiang Cheng felt his own high school life had been dull and gray.
He typed on his phone: “He’s so dazzling.”
Madam Shang thought of how this girl might have once been just as dazzling, and felt a little sad. Afraid she might feel uncomfortable, she calmly said, “The photos are edited. The originals were actually quite messy. That basketball one looks cool, right? He was actually all sweaty after playing, smelled terrible! Ew!”
As she spoke, she fanned her nose with her hand, looking disgusted.
Jiang Cheng smiled slightly.
Madam Shang closed the album and said, “It’s getting late. Let’s go downstairs for lunch.”
Jiang Cheng was also tired of looking. After all, she wasn’t really his mother, and acting emotional was exhausting. So he immediately stood up when he heard about food.
Time to eat!
Lunch at the Shang family was extremely lavish. Jiang Cheng ate very happily. Having money is really good—the food was better than any restaurant. It felt like every meal was a banquet.
After lunch, Shang Zhe Nian said to Madam Shang, “Didn’t you have afternoon tea with friends? Shouldn’t you go?”
Madam Shang saw through him immediately. He clearly wanted to kick her out so he could have time alone with Chen Yin.
She sighed—her son had grown up.
“Fine, fine. I’ll go for tea. Remember to send Yin Yin home early so her grandfather won’t worry.”
“Got it.”
Madam Shang left very tactfully.
Jiang Cheng picked up a small bag containing several precious photos given by Madam Shang. He couldn’t refuse them and planned to give them to Chen Pingzhou.
“Where are you going?” Shang Zhe Nian asked.
Jiang Cheng typed: “Auntie Fang went out, so I should go back too.”
“Too early,” Shang Zhe Nian said. “It’s just after lunch. Stay a bit longer.”
Jiang Cheng blinked and typed: “What else is there to do?”
“Lots of things. Do you like watching movies? The summer movie releases just arrived. We can watch a new film.”
Watching a movie—sure.
Jiang Cheng didn’t refuse. Anyway, the old master was napping at home, so he had nothing to do.
Shang Zhe Nian took him to the basement. Jiang Cheng was surprised to find it was built exactly like a cinema—huge screen, reclining seats, everything.
“Sit,” Shang Zhe Nian said while turning on the lights and projector. “Open your app and search summer releases. See what you want to watch.”
Jiang Cheng obediently did as told.
He didn’t really watch movies, so he didn’t know what was good. After browsing for a while, he picked a foreign horror film.
Shang Zhe Nian raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? Aren’t you afraid?”
Jiang Cheng typed: “Of course not! I’m very brave! But if you’re scared, we can change it!”
